Chapter Four: Knotted: Part Two

Yozora sprinted home, his lungs burning as he gasped for air. He slammed the front door open and stumbled into the living room, collapsing onto the floor. "MOM! DAD!" he yelled, tears of frustration streaming down his face. "She has Mara! Jester—Jezebel—she took her!"

His mother, startled, dropped the bowl of salad she was preparing. His father burst in from the kitchen, knocking the steaks off the counter in his rush.

"Zora, what’s going on? Who took Mara? A Jester?" his father demanded, voice tight with concern.

Yozora grabbed his father’s shirt, pressing his tear-streaked face into his chest as he struggled to catch his breath. "Yes," he managed between gasps. "A woman with blue hair, emerald eyes, barely any clothes—she called herself Jester Jezebel. She took Mara."

His parents exchanged a look that sent a chill through Yozora. It wasn’t just shock or worry—it was recognition, as if they had been expecting this day. His mother spoke first, her voice trembling slightly.

"What did this Jester say, Zora?"

Yozora wiped his face, anger replacing his panic. "What did you and Dad do?" he demanded, his tone sharp, serious. "Why did she tell me to ask you for the truth? Mara has less than 24 hours—answer me!" His voice cracked with desperation.

His mother’s face crumpled, a heartbroken expression overtaking her features. "It’s been long enough, I suppose," she whispered, glancing at his father, who gave a slow, reluctant nod.” She took a deep breath, preparing herself.

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"Zora," she began, her voice thick with emotion, "I did this for you. For your happiness. Your father and I... we’ve never seen you so joyful these past six years. You’ve made friends, gone to parties, played sports, celebrated birthdays—things we could’ve never imagined for you. But—" she hesitated, tears welling up in her eyes, "—you’re not like everyone else. And neither is T.LAC..."

Yozora and T.LAC stared at her in shock, disbelief written across their faces.

"What do you mean we’re not like others?" Yozora spat, his voice filled with confusion and anger. "Is Mara different too? What the hell is going on?!"

"Watch your mouth!" his father snapped, but the edge in his voice couldn’t mask the guilt.

His mother, fighting back her own tears, placed a hand on her husband’s back. "It’s okay," she murmured, "we should’ve expected this. He has every right to be angry." She turned back to Yozora, her eyes filled with sorrow.

"Zora... T.LAC... neither of you are human," she said softly, the words landing like a bombshell. "There’s a reason you two have always been unmatched at the Stars Institute. You see, you’re Star Crossed—a species created by a secret global initiative called S.T.A.R.S., or Sub-dimensional Tuning and Advanced Resonance Studies. You and a select few others are what’s known as Tuners."

Yozora’s mind reeled, struggling to process the words. His mother continued, her voice steady but filled with regret.

"At S.T.A.R.S., you two were top operatives. But Zora... by the age of twelve, you were the best operative they’d ever seen. You were capable of things that no one else could imagine. And... out of an act of selfishness, we had you both Zero’d."

"Zero’d?" T.LAC finally spoke, his voice hoarse with disbelief. "What does that even mean?"

His mother exhaled, her face heavy with the weight of the confession. "We separated your memories, your powers, your pasts. We wanted to give you a chance at a normal life, a life outside the mission, away from the burden protecting the world. But now... now it’s all coming back."

Yozora’s legs felt weak, his chest tightening even more painfully. Everything he thought he knew about himself—about his life—had been a lie. "Why now?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

His mother’s eyes darkened. "Because Jezebel... she’s part of the world we tried to shield you from. And if she’s come for you, it means your past is catching up with you. We have no more time to hide."

The knot in Yozora’s chest twisted as the weight of his parents' revelation settled in. He had less than 24 hours to save Mara, but even now, the ground beneath him felt like it was crumbling. His entire life, his very identity, was unraveling—and he had no idea what he was supposed to do next.